Synchronizing system



Dec. 27, 1955 A. v. BEDFORD SYNCHRONIZING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. ll 1950 INVENTOR MZ AT RNEY Dec- 27, 1955 A. v. BEDFORD 2,728,812

SYNCHRONIZING APPARATUS INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1955 A, v. BEDFORD 2,728,812

SYNCHRONIZING APPARATUS n il Filed Feb. l1 1950 4 Sheets-'Sheet 3 ma" w, i

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M i Mafia/55cm l i im@ ATTORNEY VUnited States Patent `sYrserIRoNIzING SYSTEM Alda Y- Bedford, .Brncetom N.. .I J., ,assigner to Radio .Corporation 'of America, a corporation of Delaware l Application ;Eebruary 11, 1950, vSerial-No.` 143,800

2s claims. (C1. 17e-5.4)

Ille .invention .relates .to apparatus .for lsynclnr tn iizing sampling operations performed in a television receiver ,Witli sampling voperatitms performed in a television trans `mitten i In vnmny image transmission systems .the continuously vary-ing video signals, generally vsupplied by a television camera, 1are sampled during a first series offpredetermined uniformly spaced intervals before being Yapplied to a Itransmission link, At V the receiver it- 1fs necessary k to sam- -ple .tlleLsianels .conveyed by the Ktransmission link during correspondinaseries of uniformly spaced .intervals ,that have the same`phase relationship tothe video signals as the lrstseries o f intervals, .taking into .account the time of transmission.

For example, ,in .a V,color television .system lof .the .dot multiplex type., each o .a lplurality of,cont.ini.1.ou.s ,video signals lrepresents the intensity .variations of one of tlle .component colors. These colors make :up .the `natural coloring .of .an .obiectorreldof view .All of .these video sisnalseresomnled byntimedivii An.mult,irllerrer so ,as .to derive one l,video wave rthat.succ tively .represents the intensities of me dilerent.component-.colors ,The `sampling technique iis .o verrmloyed .in-certain qnsntizing systems- ,In one suehsystem-for e .the .continuous video .signal .corresponding .toe firs coui-y Ponent color is .quentilzed .i- ,e-,a signal, i, oped that has aiixed value .when .tlrecontinnonsly-v signal .is within, .one ,predetermined 4rnnae of .values .and f another .lixed .value whentlie co tin onsly .vn ns video signal-is within enotlrcrrarrse .of .values Tlusuusntized signal is sampled, generallyat n tregnencyegnel Y,to .twice the cotton? frequency .of .the transmission system, .and snmnlesof. ,tlievdco-.sisntilsrepresenting the intensity variations .of the .other component .colors k.are `added Ato .the samples of the video .signals A.oorresnonding .to the .tir-.st component ,coloriy .In both .o f .these eases, namely dot ninltipleriosand onentizng, stablesynolrroniz ionof .the sampling ot the transmitter .and receiver .is .cs sentrlsl .to color fidelity- `Proper synchronization .of ,the .phase .and .frequency .of sampling nt television ,receivers with .tlresnmnling .at .a television transmitter r'etulires that a ,special sampling control signal be `t nsmitted in additionto thehor-i.zlontei .and .vertical ,synesignals `generally .employed Iltis samoline .control signal'must. however interfere Awith ,the Ioperation ofthe recelv. .Torre deendtonsen interfering control signaline novelmnnneris.theprimary aim of thenresentinvention- I t is apparent to ,th e .slcilledin the artthet asamnling control signal can be .transmitted as @modulation of a ,separate carrier. .Il lowever, ,thisds lriglrlylobieetionable as itincreases tlreband l' h television channel Furthermore it necessitates ad tional equipmentat the transmitting station, atrepeating stationslaud in ca bles employed to `tie transmitting stations into a network.

Accordingly, therefore, it is an 'object' of nthis invention vto provide-aneimproved'means 'for synchronizing sampling u 2,728,812 Patented Dec. 2 7, 1955 ice - at a television ,receiver with sampling at fa television transinitier.

ltfisa further .object to provide an improved apparatus for t an'sm'ittins, in ,a television system, e Ysampling control srgnellin such .a menner'that no additional bandvyidthisreouired.

`Anotherpur-pose of the invention is to provide an improved apparatus for controlling the sampling of a televisiorirecoiver 4in ,response to .a lspecial sampling control signal,

A till fr trther object of the invention `s to provide an improved apparatus for transmitting a sampling control signal in atelevision system in such manner `as not 'to in Vteijferle4 with the .normal operation of the receivers.

'These vand other objects of the invention will become s pparentjrom a detailed considerationof die drawings 1in which; W "fFrgure '1 shows Vin'bloclrand schematic form an arrapgemoutiortransmitting sampling control signals in accordenee 'with the principles of this invention;

EigureZ illustrates waveforms that occur at various points'in the arrangement of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows ,a dilferent means for transmittingsampling control -signals in accordance'with the principles of this invention; o 'Y Figure 4 shows-a yreceiver iu which the sampling-is synchrorized with the transmitted Isampling control signal;

Figure 5 shows Vin block diagram form afeceiverjin which the sampling is synchronized with the `,transmitted sampling control signals; and

'Figure A6 shows in block diagram form another arrangement in -which the sampling is synchronized with the transmitted sampling control signal.

Irl television systems of a type in which this invention may be incorporated, video information is transmitted during recurring intervals, and scanning control signals, as well as blanking signals, are transmitted in between these intervals. vIn Vaccordance with present practice,r a horizontal sync pulse is superimposed on a blanking pulse, and that portion of the blanking pulse following the super.- imposed horizontal sync pulse is generally termed v the back porch. This term will be used for the sake of brevityv'and convenience. In one form of this invention, a sampling control signal of a properly selected frequency jis transmitted during this back porch interval, that is to say, it follows a sync signal, but occurs during horizontal'blankiug. At the receiver the samplingcoutrol signal occurring during the back porch interval is used to control theuphase and frequency of the samplingv oscillator, In this way, extremely stable synchronization can ybe obtained-between the sampling at the receiver and the sampling at the transmitter` in ysuch a manner as not to interfere with the normal operation of the television receiver. VThe sampling controlV signal comprises several cycles (i. e. a burst) Aof a selected frequency. Subsequently in the specication and in theclaimsthe sampling control signal also will be referred toas alburst, aburst of sampling control frequency anda burst of sine wave oscillations. n V

In Figure l, there is shown an arrangement whereby the sampling control frequency is injected into the signal train to Vbe applied to the transmitter during the basl; porch interval.'y -For purposes of convenience, Figure l willbe 4discussed in connection with the curves Vshown in -Figure 2, curve A appearing at point A inthe circuitand curve 'B appearing at point B in the cirouit, etc. lA sync generator v2 Aof any standard type such, for example, as that described in U. 1S. Patent No. 2,258,943 vissued Yto Bedford o n August 14, 1941, provides a means for furnishing'horizontal driving pulses, such. as that `shown 'iu curve A of Figure 2, on an output connection or'lead shown schematically and designated by reference character 4. The horizontal and vertical blanking pulses are not shown 'in the curves of Figure 2 but are provided by an output lead 6. The leading edge of the horizontal driving pulse A triggers a multivibrator 8. The multivibrator 8 is adjusted so that its output pulse B has a duration greater than the duration of the driving pulse A, and the trailing edge of the output pulse B is Aemployed to trigger multivibrator 10 so as to provide pulses C. These multivibrators 8 and 10 are so tuned that their recovery time exceeds the line scanning interval, thus ensuring that their change in Output polarity occurs only when they are triggered. v

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the multivibrators 8 and 10 could be of free-running type, in which case they are tuned so that their natural period of oscillation exceeds the line scanning period in order to insure that the change in the output polarity of their sig nal will occur only when they are triggered. On the other hand, either or both of them might be flip-flop ymultivibrators such as the Well known Eccles-Jordan type in which their output changes polarity for a predetermined interval following the application of a suitable triggering signal. Furthermore, either of these multivibrators could be replaced by blocking oscillators of the type illustrated in the U. S. Patent No. 2,101,520 to Tolson et al. By any of these well known means pulse C can bemade to occur during any desired portion of the back porch. Y

Although it may be preferable that pulse C occur during the back porch interval, it is within the scope o f this inventionto generate it for a predetermined time after either the leading or the trailing edges of the horizontal driving pulse A. This can be accomplished by employ- -ing but a single multivibrator or equivalents thereof and by ltriggering it either at the leading or trailing edges of sync.

'It is also.apparent that in any of the above arrangements pulses C can be generated independently of the driving pulses. However, some positive means for controlling the phase of the pulses C with respect to the drivingpulse is preferable in order to insure that the burst of control frequency occurs during the proper intervals. Furthermore, instead of deriving pulses C from the driving pulse, the driving pulses might be derived from the pulses C. A

.The following means are provided for adding thepulses C and the continuous oscillations D provided by a sampling oscillator 26 so that the voltage appearing at the plates of the tubes16 and 22 is that shown in curve E. After passing through a suitable number of stages of arnplification in amplifier 12, pulse C is inverted and applied in a .negative sense to the grid 14 of tube 16 via coupling condenser 18 and grid leak resistor 20, the lower end of the 'grid leak resistor 20 being connected to a suitable source of fixed potential as shown. Tube 22 is connected in parallel with tube 16, the plates of the two tubes being tied to a source (not shown) of B+ potential via a common lvariable resistor 24 and their cathodes being tied to ground. The output of the sampling oscillator 26 shown in curve D is supplied to the grid 28 of the tube 22 via coupling condenser 30 and grid leak resistor 32, the lower end of the resistor 32 being connected to a suitable bias potential. In this way, waveform El of Figure 2 is derived.

The voltage wave E is coupled to the grid 34 of tube 36 of adder 35 via condenser 38 and grid leak resistor 40. The Condenser 38 is sufiiciently large to passvthe A. C. voltage wave represented by the pulses C. The grid leak resistor 40 is connected to a source of negative bias potential 42 that is sufficiently great to maintain tube 36 at cut-off until voltage waveform E exceeds the value shown by the dotted line 44 lin curve E in Figurev2. Thus, tube 36 acts as a limiter and its plate voltage varies in accordance with waveform F of Figure 2. Tube 44 of adder 35 is connected in parallel with tube 36, the r 4 Y plates being tied together and to a source of B+ potential via a common plate load resistor 46 and the cathodes being tied to ground. The composite horizontal and vertical sync wave provided by the sync generator through lead 50 is amplified by amplifier 48 and applied via coupling condenser 52 and grid leak resistor 54 to the grid 56 of tube 44. This waveis illustrated by wave G of Figure 2 which shows only the horizontal pulses of this composite wave. In this way, means are provided for add'- ing the sync wave and the burst of sine wave oscillations provided by tube 36 so as to provide an output waveform across the resistor 46, such as shown in curve H of Figure 2. This new syncwave is coupled viacondenser 58 to an output lead 60.

The reason for superimposing the burst onto the top of the blanking pulse is to prevent the kinescope of a standard receiver from being unblanked during retrace time so as to interfere with the image being reproduced. However, increased power can be obtained by placing the axis of the burst of control frequency at the top of the blanking pulse and by increasing its amplitude. The burst can be prevented from unblanking the kinescope in the receiver by generating a blanking pulse at the receiver in response to the burst and by applying it in such manner as to blank the kinescope. The important part of the invention is to provide a burst that occurs during the time that would normally not be useful in the receiver for actual picture reproduction because of the necessity of returning the scanning beam at the completion of each me.

Under somey circumstances, the phase relationship between the sine waves supplied by sampling oscillator 26 and the sync pulses provided by sync generator 2 is of extreme importance. With switch S in an open position this phase relationship could be approximately maintained if the base oscillators usually employed in sync generator 2 and in the sampling oscillator 26 were crystal controlled. However, some applications require an extremely accurate control of the phase relationship between the sync pulses and the sampling rate, and under these circumstances, the sync generator is made dependent on the sampling oscillator by the following means. Generally speaking, sync generators now in use are provided with an oscillator which oscillates at a frequency that is twice the horizontal scanning frequency, and in accordance with present day standards, this would be a frequency of 31,500 cycles per second. This 31,500-cycle frequency can be derived from the sampling oscillator 26 in the followingv manner. Assume, for example, that the sampling frequency provided by'sampling oscillator 26 is 3.583125 megacycles. If this frequency is divided by 7 in frequency divider 62, multiplied by 4 in frequency multiplier 64, divided by 5 in frequency divider 66 and divided by 13 in frequency divider 68, the frequency supplied to the right-hand terminal of the switch S would be 31,500 cycles per second. Therefore, if the switch S is closed, this 31,500-cycle per second may be substituted for the output of the oscillator normally used in the sync generator 2. Other ways of deriving the 31,500-cycle frequency from the output of the sampling oscillator will be apparent to those skilled 4in the art. The frequency of the sampling oscillator depends on the system in which this invention is employed. The fre` quency of the sampling oscillator in the aboveexample (3.583125 mc.) bears such a relation to the horizontal scanning rate of present day television systems that its phase with respect to the line scanning interval changes b y degrees on each successive line. This is useful in certain types of double horizontal interlacing employed in dot sequential systems. However, the particular frequencyl does not constitute a part of this invention. f

The manner in which the above apparatus can be in'- corporated into any type of transmitter will now be explained Thevideo signals -suppliedby the source 70 may be of any desired type. For example, they may be waage-1a three 4separate Vvideosignal trains, each-corresponding ,to afditfere'nt -component color of -the image to be televised or theymay -bea single ^Video train representing -a monochrome or'black and white image. `In yany case, blanking, horizontal driving :and vertical driving :in lthe Ysource Y70 1is controlled by'signals on vleads 6, 4 v'and 71 @respectively in -a-mannerwell known -to those skilled lin the art.

VvThe sampler 74 to-Which the output of source 70 is -applied may also be of any type. For example, `it may -bela--multiplexersuch as islusedlin dot lsequential color television lsystems `wherein the -separatefvideo -signal trains, that are representative vrespectively of -t-he intensity variations of a plurality of component colors, are successively supplied vat or 'nearimage elemental rateto a single output channel. In another example, sampler 74 may simply operate'to pass'signals-emanating from source 70 only during-successiveuniformly spaced intervals, but in any-case, 'samplerv74-derivesits^contro1 voltage from oscillatcrr 26 via 'lead 76. v

The complete composite y.video wave such as waveform "I shown in Figure 2-is assembled -by a means of an adder '78 5for vcombiuing'the output of the sampler S74 andthe output of -the'adder '35. A*If-the cut off frequency of `the output circuits of the sampler 74 is sufficiently low in comparison with'the frequency of the samples supplied by the --sampler 74, the samples taken yof Ithe blanking rpulses provided 'by the' source 70 will be integrated lto form a blanking pulse -having a ysmooth top, as indicatedin waveform I. If, however, the cutoff-'frequency of the output circuits of the sampler 74 cannotfor-some reasonfbe made surlzicientlylow -to integrate thel samples taken during the blankingtimevinto a smooth wave, this diliicultyfcan be overcome 'in many ways knownetov those 'skilledlin the art. yFor -.example, the blanking process .could be carried out by apparatus (not-shown) connected between` -sampler 74 and -adder 78.

Figure 3 shows aditerent means of inserting lthe burst yof control frequency vin accordance with this invention during -the back porch interval. -For `the ysalte of sim- -plicity,-those components that are similar to-the components-of Figure I1 willbe indicated by -the same numerals. :In this particular arrangement, the pulses C are `supplied in a positive-going ysense to the grid .80 -of a pentagrid converter .82,'and the output of 7the ysampling oscillator `261indicated by waveform D in Figure 2 is `supplied to the grid 84 of the same tube. These ygri'ds are biased -in such la -waygthat the tube is cut oi, except' duringthe :presence of the positive -pulses C. The bias is also adfjusted so that `the negative swings of =the .waveform D lappliedtto grid84-vjust bring-the tube to cut off. There- A .fore, :the-Lvoltage-appearingat the plate 86 ofthe pentafgrid -converter v82 will -be the negativeo'f curve'F of Figlure'Z. This y*negative wave F appearing yat the plate =86 :.ispassedfthrough amplifier 88 which reverses its polarity :and produces-'wave F of vFigure 2. The vhorizontal and kvertical sync `wave .G presenton lead 50 iis combined -in adder 35 .withlthe-waveform F so as to form the 'wave- Vform Hof Eigurel This new complete sync signal in- -cluding the .-'burst of sampling control frequency is `com- :f'binedwith the rest ofthe signal "train inthe adder v78, -as was explained rin connection with-'Figure .1.

Figure 4 illustrates a receiver embodying the invention which -is ladapted to 'sample the received signal at a ;rate2and phase determined by the rburst of sampling-convtrol frequency appearingduring the back porch interval. y

`A-signal tuner 100 including a demodulatorprovides ;a signal correspondingto waveform M of Figure 2. -Wave- "form y"Ms the ysame las thectransmitted waveform lI except for changes introduced by the transmission link.y The -detailsof-the signal tuner 100need ynot be explained -for -the =reason-thatithey1are well known to -thoseskilled in -theart. Regardless of the type of .sampler 102 -fthat is employed,the phase and `frequency of the samples with respect to --the received vwave M is I controlled i by the sampling oscillator 104.

flhe zphase and frequency lof sampling oscillator 104 are, in turn,A controlled `bytlie Jfollowing means'. Waveform M jis also applied tto' any. well 'knOWntype of -jsync separator'11f06f` In orderlto 'minimize the elects o ffnoise, some of these known -s'yneseparators performa ldouble clipping action lata -point above blanking level -sueh as indicated by the-dotted lines x `and y in waveformMof Figure 2. In 'this 'particular embodiment, "in order yto make a clear indication that this double yclipping 'action is performed, the output of the -sync'separator has been shown `in the lblock v diagram as `being applied to`a top and bottom clipper 108,` which supplies the signal -apf pearing between the levels x and y ofvva'veform "to'a .-gatingfcircuit 1110. In this-way amplitude 'selection of Vthe -burst of sampling control vfrequency iis jrprovided'. This -signal 'may be -applied Iviapswitch lS1 to cascade or series-connected multivibrators 17112 and .114 which op erate in a'manner--similar to that of 'multivibrators g8 and 10 of Figures -l and'3, or their equivalents, and-which constitute a means for deriving pulses-that occur only'during thefback-porch interval. A single multivibratorthatis 'triggered Vfrom either the leading or the trailing -edge yof the horizontalsync pulseor fromthe output of the `horizontal deflection circuit maybe used instead of Ythetmultivibrators 112 and "1f14, Theduration of the pulse thus provided can be adjusted to include -the burst. and even though it Ywould also include -the -sync-pulse itself; inthe case whereit-is triggered on -the leading edge, lthis would not Abe harmful. 'When switch Si is `in `the *position opposite to that shown, the lsync pulse Ifor controlling the -multivibrators 112 and 11A-:may be derived from -the de- -tiectonv circuits 113 if desired. vThe output of multivi- 'brator i112 is vindicated -by the 'waveform LO lin 'Figure 2 and lthe output of multivibrator 114 is indicated lby the waveform P -of Figure 2. The pulses present in -waveform P- occur during the 4-baek porch `interval and are -applied so as to operate any well known type of gating means 1710.- In-this'way, only the bursts'ofthe sampling control frequency, such as indicated by waveform yQ of Figure 2, are presentin -the output ofthe gating device `1110. Thisis therefore one way ofprovidingstimle selections ofthe 4bursts of sampling frequency. A'Inqorder to eliminate. anylextraneous frequencies, the waveform -Q may be "applied to a-selective filter 116 4so as to effect frequency selection ofthe :bursts of sampling control frequency, andthe output of the iilte'r is vappliedto 'therprimary 1:18 Gif-transformer 1'20.

In -order to provide vmeans ,for controlling the Iphase and `-frequency of ythe rsampling oscillator 104 with -th e bursts of sampling control frequencyappearing in the primary 11S,v the -output of -the sampling oscillator 104 and these bursts .of sampling control -frequency are -applied rto a-phasevdiscriminator generally indicated by -the numeral Jl122. The details of thephasefdiseriminator '122 are as follows. IThe output Aof the samplingoscill-ator 104 -is coupled through transformer 124 -t'o ldiagonally vopposed points in the single phase bridge rectifier 1126. A

waveform similar `to that 'indicated by the letter '1R of Figure 2-is coupled by transformer 120 to the opposite pair of diagonal 'pointslin the bridge lrectifier 126. -In series with this coupling is a self-biasing arrangement comprised of a parallel resistance 128 and ycondenser 130. The polarity of the unilateral vcurrent conducting elements ineach arm of the rectifyingbridge 126 is -such -that current from the oscillator can lonly Uflow ythrough the lrectifier duringthe presence of -the burst of sampling control frequencyprovided bythe transformer L120. "The output of the bridgerectier 126fisvapplied'toasrnoothf ing filter generally indicated -byl-numeral 132'so as to-de velop a waveform such as T of Figure 2. Afterpassing through D. C. -amplier=134 this wave is Yappliedto 4control vthe conduction ofthe reactancetube136. The reactan'ce Jtube l13:6 controls the -phase and frequencytf .the cam- 'pling `oscillator '104 -in 4`a Amanner well known-to 'those skilled in the art.

#The time'v constants of the feedback circuits including filter 13 2, D.- C. amplifier 134 and reactance tube 136 arepreferably made long in comparison withvthe interyalbetweenbursts so thatl the phaseof oscillator 104 is maintained constant during that time. This is indicated by the fact. that wave form T only changes amplitude duringthe burstinterval. The interval between bursts will be in ,the order of microseconds and very little, if any, drifting will occur.

.Figure 5 shows a slightly different arrangement in accordance 'with theinvention for controlling the sampling oscillatorat areceiverfin accordance with the burst of sampling control frequency present during the back porch interval. Corresponding components in Figures 4 and 5 bear the same numerals. The outputof signal tuner100 is supplied directly to the gate circuit 110 instead of, passing ,through sync separator and top and bottom clipper, as inthe case of the arrangement shown in Figure 4. The sync pulse is separated out by sync separator 106 and employed to trigger the multivibrators 112 and-114 as before. .The output waveform P of multivibrator114 serves to open the gate 110 during that portion .oft-.the back porch interval occupied by the burst of the .sampling and control frequency. The selective filter 116 of-Figure 4 is'not employed with switch S2 in the position shown, land the output of the gate 110 is applied directly t0 the phase discriminator 122. However, in additionto the time selection of the bursts of sampling con- .trol frequency supplied bythe gate 110, frequency selection may-also be supplied if S2 is in the opposite position from that shown. In either arrangement the reactance tube of Figure 4v is eliminated and the output of the phase discriminator is applied via a D. C. amplifier and suitable impedanceto one of the electrodes of the oscillator tube'so as to control its phase and frequency in accordance-with principlesv well known to those skilled in the art. 'l Figure 6 shows another arrangement for synchronizing vthe sampling at a receiver with a burst of sampling con- .troly frequency occurring during the back porch interval.- Inthis case, the output of the sync separator 106 is applied directly to thephase discriminator 122. ,The gate 110 and the selective filter 116 are omitted whenSa isinthe position shown. The presence of the horizontal synchronizing pulses should not seriously interfere with .the operation -of the phasediscriminator 122.

However, in addition to the amplitude selection supplied byl sync separator 106, frequency selection may alsobe obtained if switch S3 is in the opposite position from that shown.

All the previous discussion has related to the adapta- .tionof this invention to television. systems employing .horizontal sync pulses. It would, of course, be possible lto eliminate these'pulses and employ the burst for synchronizing the scanning at the receiver as well as ,the phase of an oscillator therein. However, receivers built in accordance with present `standards might not operate satisfactorily if the sync pulses were eliminated and therefore it is preferable that the burst be employed in combination with the standard sync pulse.

Whatis claimed is: l 1. v synchronizing apparatus for use in a television transvmitter comprising in combination av source of signals having acharacteristicthereof varied in accordance with a desired intelligence, an output circuit connected to said source, -means forperiodically interrupting during inter- -vals ofpredetermined duration the flow of signals from said Asourceto said output circuit, generating means for Vderiving atrain of pulses each of said pulses occurring v w'thi-n one of said intervals, an oscillator, means for 'maintaininga constant ratio between the frequency of saidoscillator and the frequency of saidl pulses and means -forapplying-the,output of said oscillator to said output .cireuit during' the portion of said'intervals following each of said train of pulses.

8 2. Apparatusfor synchronizing an oscillator ina television receiver with `bursts ofralternating current energy occurring duringthe back porch intervals comprising in combination a sync separator, means forgenerating'pulses during the backv porchi intervals in response to theoutput of said sync separator, a gating device, said gating device being controlledv by said pulses, a phase discriminator, an oscillator, connections for applying the output ofV said oscillator to said discriminator, connections for applying the output of said gating device to lsaid discriminator, and means for controlling the phase and frequency of said oscillator in accordance with the output of said discriminator. 3. In a television receiver of the type adapted to reproduce images from. a signal train comprised ofvideo signals, blanking pulses, line frequency sync signals superimposed onto saidblanking pulses, and bursts of alter.- hating current waves combined with-said blanking pulses, means for selecting said bursts, aphase discriminatorto which at least a portion of the output burstof said selecting means is applied, an oscillator having a nominal operating frequency equaltothefrequency ofthe alterhating current waves of said bursts, the outputl of-said oscillator being applied to said phase discriminator, and means for controlling the phase of said oscillator in re.- sponse to the output of said discriminator wherebysaid oscillator is synchronized in phase and frequency with the alternating current waves of said burst.

4. Ina color television receiver adapted to receive television signals containing video signals, bursts of alternating current `waves of, control frequency and horizontal sync signals, at least-portions of said bursts and said horizontal sync signals being of greater lamplitude than said video signals, an apparatus for synchronizing an oscillator in phase and frequency with the alternating wave of said bursts of control frequency comprising in combination means for selecting signals having a` greater amplitude than said video signals, an oscillator producing an alternating current wave having the same nominal frequency as that of the alternating current waves of said bursts, a phase discriminator to which the output of said oscillator is applied, apparatus for applying at least a portion of the output of said burst selectingtmeans to said phase discriminator, and means for'controlling the phase of said oscillator in accordance withthe output of said phase discriminator. f.

5. An apparatus for synchronizing the phase of an oscillator comprising in combination .means for selecting horizontal sync signals and bursts of alternating current waves having a meanfrequency thatis highy with respect to the repetition frequency of the horizontal sync signals, a filter to which the output of said -selecting means is applied, said filter being adapted to pass. said bursts of the alternating current 'wave and to exclude said horizontal syncsignals, aphase discriminator, the output of said oscillator being applied .to .said phase discriminator, the output of said filter also being applied to-saidphasediscriminator, and means for controlling the-.phase of said oscillator in .responseto the Aoutput of said phasediscriminator whereby said oscillator is synchronized in phase and frequency with-the alternating current, wave of said burst. I

6. A color television receiver adapted to receive.video signals, horizontal syncy signals and bursts of alternating 'agresse-1a 9 .7. Areceiver such'a's described in claim 6 in'which .said time-selective means 'for applying 'the output ,of said `dem'odulator '.to said second input of said phase-discriminator during the presence of said bursts 'includes agate circuit eiectively controlled in response .to said 'horizontal vsync v signals. y Y "8.. A receiver such'as described in claim 6in which said time-selective .means includes a frequency-selective filtern 19. In a television receiveradaptedto receive color television signals containing vvideo signals, bursts ofv control 'frequency and 'horizontal line sync signals, atleast portions of said bursts-and said horizontal line sync signals being o'f greater amplitude than said video signals, an apparatus for .controlling the phase of an oscillatorin response .to said Vbursts of control frequency comprising in combination: amplitude selective .means vfor selecting signals of greater amplitude than said video signals, said television signals derivedl from .the output o't said Areceive'r 4being applied to said amplitude selectiye means responsive .to .said vline synchronizing pulsesgftime-selectivfe-- means for passing said bursts of .control frequency; ,and vfrequency.selective'ineans tuned to said control fre'- quency; said .amplitude-selective means, said time-.selective meansan'd said frequency-selective meansv being .con-

nected .effectiuelyin series; ,a phase discriminator having fa vir-st and .a .second input and ,an output, an ,oscillator .coupled .to said .first input; .the output ,of `said vseries .cornhination being .connected .to vsaid .second .input oif said phase '.discriminator; .and .means for controlling .the pbase of .said .oscillator .in .response .to .the .signal occurring .at :the output .of said phase discriminator.

.10. .Alreceiver such zas .described .in .claim .9 in which said .amplitude .selective .means -is .a syncseparator, .said time-selective means is agate circuit, `said-gate.circuitbeling triggered .by .horizontal sync pulses, ,and .said :fre- :quencyselective means is -a.lter .tuned tothe ,frequency ,of .said .bursts .of ,control -frequency. Y

.1.1. An .apparatus .for transmitting intelligence .signals .in time .division multiplex yand synchronizing signals vthat 4are indicative v`of the Afrequency and phase `.of .Said intel- Jigence ,signals comprising .in `.combination a source .of .a .plurality 4of intelligence signals, 2a multiplexer tto which teach l.oi said intelligence ,signals tis, applied, .fan oscillator, .said oscillator being coupled tosaid multiplexer, imeans ffor periodically generating a `irst .train of pulses fof-,a predetermined duration and famplitude, means for blank- .ing the outputof; said-source during -eachr of therfpulsesfof isaid,-rst ltrain, meansfor rcombiningrthe routputfof said .multiplexer and ,said lpulses, -means ffor periodically ygenferating a-'secondtrain of pulses,:the pulses.of said second ctrain-of pulses being 'czoexistent respectively =with :the 'pulses ofrsaid irst strain of pulses, :the Aduration..of'fthe pulses :ofzsaid: seconditrain beingtless :than the rduration .fof ithe pulses -in said ".rst ttf-ain, :aA keying .circuit connected between said oscillator .andpsad .combiningameans and :means lfor triggering said :keying umeans vin response to v-each .pulse :of zsaid second "train .of pulses, the :output .of :said: combining means :being applied ,to a suitabletransmis- -sion system.

:12. A receiver :adapted to `reproduce images in :color I fromm'transmitted wave having .horizontal sync pulses,

zand `video-signals thatrepresent sequential variations .in :the .intensities of ta fplurality of .component colors and fbursts of .alternating :current waves comprisingin comlgbination; 'means :for deriving said horizontal :sync vipulses, :saidyideo-esignals and Vsaid synchronizing waves; anos- Y.cillatorg .a-sampler having a -single input circuit .and a plurality of @output circuits, :said sampler being adapted ftoconnect .the .input-circuit tofsaid output ,circuits nfsequencednmesponse to a Eperiodically .varying wave provided .by said oscillator; andmeans .for .synchronizing said oscillator in phase and frequency with saidalternat- ,ingurrentsynchronizing.wave bursts.

,13. ,In a .television transmitter of .the .,typelin .which the video signals are repeatedly interrupted by blanking 10 signals and in which sync Isignals are superimposed on said "blanking signals, an' apparatus `for inserting"burstsl of .alternating current energy durinygfthe ",bac'kjporc'h intervals comprising in combination a sampling oscillator, async generator, means for generating a series ofrpulses which occur during respective backfporc'h interyalsfan adderfor combining 'the voutput ofsaid oscillator with said pulses, means "for combining said series o'f'pulses and the output of .said oscillator, a limiter for selecting that portion of the output of 'the oscillator occurring during the 'back 'porch intervals, connected to said combining means', and a Second adder'for .combining the output .of said 'limiter with .atilieast somelof, the ,Signals vProvided'bylstili .sym generator. 'r i A v 1'4. .An apparatus for inserting C0.r.l 1, 51 ,Sjgn'ifi Ridi signal train comprising` in .combination .a source of .sig- .nals,.a .generatorffor supplying blankngplses atrepeaied intervals,v means lforcombining saiv lankin 'ulsestand the signals fromsaidsourca means forgenrtingacon- .trol pulsedu'ring eachof .said blankingpulse intervals, a fixed frequency oscillator, keying means for ,dent/.ing bursts of `alternating .current ,energy from said oscillator ,during at least `a part of the ,portion .of said ,blanking pulses .said bursts Aoccurring ,after each .,of. said .control Vpulses :and means .including afrequency .dividizcoupled between said .oscillatorand said .keying ,means soas .to establish .predeterminedv frequency .relationship .between .saiduoscillator and .said `.keying.mea1.1s. v l5. A :System for televising images `incolor rcompris- .ing ...in combination: a .source .of video signals .eaclloj which A.corresponds to zthe ...intensity variations ,of .a lsingle component color; a time division fniultiplexerto V,which ,said .signals .are applied; -a rfirst oscillator; means ,for .con- .trolling said multiplexer in accordance 4with the .outputwof .said oscillator; .async generator; .means for-.deriviilg bursts lof :the output .of saidi oscillator in `response .to .at ileast .one .of -the outputs of said sync generator); means for combining .the output '.o'f said multiplexer, :said -bursts ;an.d :at rleast some of thetoutputsof said .sync generatori-means for transmitting-the .outputsignals of :said latter means -to an imagereproducing means located-,at 1a; remote point; said yreproducing :means comprising, means ffor :receiving said '.transmittedsignals; .a sampler .connected to .said fre- Ace'ving il'atter *.means; Ia .second :oscillator Aconnected -so :as do -..cont1;o1 A.saidesampleig :means tfor `reproducing.' :images `.in color .connected to the Aoutputrotsadsampler;means :for selectingpsaid bursts :of fthe output :of .said ist oscillator; a Y:phase '.iiiscrminator :to which :the bursts :and :the output of sai'dfsecond oscillator are applied; fand .means for controlling the :phasefofsaidfsecond oscillator in laccordance .with theloutput of said discriminator.

16. A color television transmitter -comprisingiinfcomfbination a -plurality of .sourcesofwideo signalsfeach of Ywhich simultaneously yrepresents the lintensity Ivariation .of a different f co'lor, a -sync generator adapted --torprovide pulses'atline de'ection frequency, laftime division multipleXerhaving `a single output and-a plurality yof finputs, -each fof said inputs being' coupled "to A one o'f saidfsourees of video signals'and adapted to successively conductieaeh of saidvideosigna'ls to the single output of the multip'leXer, 'afsampling oscillatorhaving ailfrreguencyzthatsis tpprec'iably .greater than line deflection 'j freguenc'y,y the .output .off .sa-id Asampling .oscillator v.being-.couple.c l .s0- ,ns v to .maintain .the frequency :of successive periodsof conduction A-of .said .time A.division rnultiplexer :appreciabl-y -greater than ,line .delection -.freguency, A,a gating device coupled v:to the :outputof 4:said .sampling oscillator, :mea-ns ffor rendering Asaid `gating Idevice operative 'to :intermitftentlyrsupply signals yfrom said sampling oscillator Ein reesponse y'tor the-pulses=of lineY deflection frequency l supplied Vby fsaidtsync generator, and means l to combine ath-e multi plexed video,s ignals, pulses of line deflection frequency and the' intermittent signals suppliedbysaidgating device. 1'7. Apparatus as defined inclaim 16 wherein the-signals that are intermittently supplied by said gating device constitute at least a plurality of cycles of the output from said sampling oscillator. V

18. In a vcolor television system wherein the conveyed signal is comprised of pulses of line deflection frequency and video signals that represent, at a predetermined fixed frequency, different color values interspersed between each of said pulses and in which a control signal burst of alternating current wave of fsaid predetermined fixed frequency occurs after each ofsaid pulses of line deflection frequency, a color television receiver comprising in combination, an oscillator adapted to operate at said predetermined fixed frequency, a sampler coupled tothe output of said oscillator, a phase discriminator, means for coupling the output of said oscillator to said phase discriminator, means for applying at least a portion of said control signal bursts to said phase discriminator, and means for synchronizing said oscillator bursts in phase and frequency with said alternating current wave in respouse tothe output of said phase discriminator.

19.' In a color television receiver adapted to produce images from signals including line synchronizing signals, a carrier that is phase vmodulated in accordance with cer- -tain color information and bursts of alternating current waves having the same frequency `as the color carrier and providing a phase reference, said bursts of alternating current waves occurring during horizontal blanking intervals, apparatus for recovering the information represented by the phase of the color carrier comprising in combination an oscillator, means for maintaining the oscillator in a fixed phase relationship with respect to the bursts of alterfnating current waves, and means for sampling the phase -modulated color carrier with the output of said oscillator.

20. Al color television receiver IadaptedI to receive a `composite signal including a video signal component having a modulated alternating current wave representing the colorinformation of an image to be reproduced, a line vsynchronizing signal component having a repetition rate equal to the rate at which horizontal lines of the image are scanned and a color synchronizing signal component consisting of bursts of oscillations having a frequency greater than the repetition rate of said line synchronizing signal component and having a given relationship to the frequency of said alternating current wave, said receiver including in combination: `means providing local oscillations having a frequency bearing a iixed relationship to the frequency of the oscillations of said bursts; means for controlling the phase of said local oscillations by the bursts of oscillations of said color synchronizing signal component; and means for combining said local oscillations with said video signal component to convert said received alternating current wave to a form suitable for reproducing a color image.

2l. A color television receiver adapted to receive a composite signal including a video signal component havinga modulated alternating current wave representing the color information of an image to be reproduced, a

llinesynchronizing signal component having a repetition rate equal to the rate at which horizontal lines ofthe image are scanned and a color synchronizing signal component consisting of bursts of oscillations having a frequency greaterl than the repetition rate of said line synuf'ch'ronizing signal component and having a given relation- @ship to the frequency of said alternating current wave,

s'aid receiver including in'combination: oscillatory means providing an output having a frequency equal to the rate lofthe oscillations of said bursts; means for controlling the phase of the outputof said oscillatory means by 'the bursts of oscillations of said color synchronizing signal component; and means for combining the output of said oscillatory means with the alternating current wave of saidyideo signal component to convert said alternating current wave to a form suitable for reproducing a color image, r Y

22.` A color television receiver adapted to` receive a composite signal including a video signal component having a modulated alternating current wave representing the color information of an image to be reproduced, a line synchronizing signal component having a repetition rate equal to the rate at which horizontal lines of the image are scanned and a color synchronizing signal component consisting of bursts of oscillations having a frequency equal to the frequency of said carrier wave and a repetition rate equal to the repetition rate of said line synchronizing signal component, said receiver including in combination: an oscillator providing a reference wave having a frequency equal to the frequency of said alternating current wave; means for controlling the phase of said reference wave by the bursts of oscillations of said coloi` synchronizing signal component; and means for combining said reference wave with said alternating eurent wave to convert said alternating current wave to a form suit able to be applied to color image reproducing means.

23. A color television receiver adapted to receive a composite signal including a video signal component representing the color information of an image to be reproduced, a line synchronizing signal component having a repetition rate equal to the rate at which horizontal lines of the image are scanned and a color synchronizing signal component consisting of bursts of oscillations having a frequency greater than the repetition rate of said line synchronizing signal component, said receiver including in combination: an oscillator providing an output having a frequency bearing a fixed relationship to the frequency of the oscillations of said bursts; means including a phase discriminator responsive to said bursts and to said oscillator output for controlling the phase of said oscillator output by said color synchronizing signal component; and means for combining said oscillator output with said video signal component to convert said received signal to a form suitable for reproducing a color image.

24. In a color television receiver adapted to receive color television signals including video signals, bursts of control frequency and horizontal sync signals, at least ka portion of said bursts and said horizontal sync signals being of greater amplitude than said video signals, an apparatus for controlling the phase of oscillatory means in response to said bursts of control frequency/*including in combination: amplitude-selective means for selecting -signals of greater amplitude than said video signals, said amplitude-selective means being responsive to said television signals; time-selective means controlled by said horizontal sync pulses for passing said bursts of control frequency; frequency-selective means tuned to said control frequency for segregating said bursts of control frequency; a source of local, oscillations; a phase discriminator responsive to' said local oscillations and to the output of one of said selective means for developing a control signal indicative of the phase relationship of said local oscillations and said bursts of control frequency; and means responsive to said control signal for controlling the phase of said local oscillations.

25. Apparatus for producing a train of signals for use in a color television system in which color representative video signals are sampled for transmission at a frequency higher than the horizontal line repetition rate, said sampling frequency having `a fixed relationship to said horizontal line repetition rate, said signals including horizontal and vertical sync pulses and bursts of a sampling control frequency, saidl apparatus including inv combination: means including a source of a first alternating current wave having said sampling frequency for producing said bursts of sampling control frequency; means responsive to said rst alternating current wave for developing a second alternating current wave having a given frequency relationship to both of the horizontal and vertical sync pulse repetition rates; and means responsive to said second alternating current wave to develop said horizontal and vertical sync pulses. v

26. Apparatus for producing a train of signals for use in a color television system in which color representative 13 video signals are sampled for transmission at a frequency higher than the horizontal line repetition rate, said sampling frequency having a fixed relationship to said horizontal line repetition rate, said signals including horizontal and vertical sync pulses and bursts of a sampling control frequency, said apparatus including in combination: a source of a first alternating current wave having said sampling frequency; means coupled to said first alter- 'nating current wave source for producing said bursts of sampling control frequency; means including a frequency divider responsive to said sampling frequency alternating current wave for developing a second alternating current wave having an integral multiple relationship to both of the horizontal and vertical sync pulse repetition rates; and means responsive to said second alternating current Wave to develop said horizontal and vertical sync pulses.

27. Apparatus for producing a train of signals for use in a color television system in which color representative video signals are sampled for transmission at a frequency higher than the horizontal line repetition rate, said sampling frequency having a fixed relationship to' said horizontal line repetition rate, said signals including horizontal and vertical sync pulses and bursts of a sampling control frequency, said apparatus including in combination: a source of a rst alternating current wave having a sampling frequency equal to an odd multiple of onehalf of the horizontal line repetition rate; means including a frequency divider responsive to said sampling frequency alternating current wave to develop a second alternating current wave having an integral multiple relationship to both of the horizontal and vertical sync pulse repetition rates; means responsive to said second alternating current wave to develop said horizontal and vertical sync pulses; means responsive to said second alternating current wave to produce control pulses having the horizontal line repetition rate, said control pulses closely following said horizontal sync pulses in time; means responsive to said control pulses and to said rst alternating current wave for producing said bursts of sampling con- 14 trol frequency; and means for combining said horizontal and vertical sync signals with said bursts of sampling control frequency.

-28. In a color television receiver adapted to receive color television signals including video signals, bursts of control frequency and horizontal sync signals, an apparatus for controlling the phase of oscillatory means in response to said bursts of control frequency including in combination: means including a gate circuit having said television signals impressed thereon; means responsive to said horizontal sync signals for developing gate control pulses; means to impress said control pulses upon said gate circuit to periodically permit the passage of said bursts of control frequency; a source of local oscillations for combination with said video signals to convert said video signals to a form suitable for reproducing a color image; and a phase discriminator responsive to said local oscillations and to said selected bursts of control frequency for developing a signal to control the phase of said local oscillations.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,515 'Bartelink Aug. 10, 1943 2,339,536 Wessdt Jan. 18, 1944 2,378,746 Beers June 19, 1945 2,401,384 Young June 4, 1946 2,463,685 Fredendall et al. Mar. 8, 1949 2,465,371 Grieg Mar. 29, 1949 2,502,213 Fredendall et al Mar. 25, 1950 2,539,440 Labin Jan. 30, 1951 2,546,972 Chatterjea Apr. 3, 1951 2,601,516 Gray June 24, 1952 OTHER REFERENCES Transmission of Television Sound on the Picture Carrier, Fredendall, Schlesinger and Schroeder, RCA Laboratories Publication, reprinted from IRE, Feb. 1946.

Circuits for Horizontal A. F. C., Gardner, Radio- Electronics, July 1949, pp. 24-26. 

